3 Reasons Why You Should Detox

NOTE: Please know that when I write “Detox” I am not referring to fasting, juicing or pounding a concoction of maple syrup, lemon juice, and cayenne that has you running to the bathroom. I am referring to eating in a way that supports your body’s ability to detoxify effectively and eliminate consistently so you can function optimally.

Spring and/or fall are both an ideal time but anytime can work! A transition to a new season is a fantastic chance to give your body the opportunity to flush out the old and bring in the new. Just as nature takes time to shed and renew, so can we.

By bolstering our bodies with healthy and vibrant foods in their most whole form (think unprocessed “clean” eating) like fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, nuts, seeds, beans, grains, and cutting out things like sugar, caffeine, alcohol, refined flour and processed foods, meat, dairy and gluten, which can be an irritant for some, we can give our body a chance to recuperate and catch up.

If you are someone who just thought, “Shucks, all the good stuff”, think again! There is a world of fantastic flavor in the foods of the season: roasted sweet potatoes with cinnamon, fresh corn on the cob, cold cucumber dill soup, blueberry crumble with almond and coconut flour, black bean salads with fresh peppers, green onions, cilantro and garlic and much much more.

That’s right…that IS the good stuff, my friends. You can detox for two days or two weeks, but taking time off of a typical, more processed diet to infuse it with a bounty of whole-foods-based nutrients is a boon to your body’s organs of detox particularly the liver, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract.

Here are 3 reasons why a detox might be right for you:

1. You have been struggling with low energy or fatigue

Especially if you find your energy drooping around the 3pm or 4pm hour and hankering for a Starbucks cookie and Frappuccino for a pick-me-up, this likely indicates that your body is in need of a boost in nutritional status and perhaps needs a few days to give the short term boot to the foods that may be bringing you down.

2. You have unexplained symptoms that won’t go away.

Your liver is one busy organ which filters out bacteria, supports digestive function, and metabolizes dietary fats, carbohydrates, and proteins among many other functions. When it’s working overtime, we may not feel our best. Signs that your liver might be a tad overburdened and not working as well as it could be:

Sluggish Digestion

Sugar cravings

Fatigue

Aches and pains

Skin issues

Hormonal or thyroid issues

Migraines or foggy brain

Immune system issues

You may find yourself saying: “I feel like an old person and I’m only in my 40’s!”, “Why do I still have acne?” or “When will these headaches stop”? There’s a possibility that you may be dealing with a toxic burden from long term exposure to the vast amount of toxins (chemicals, additives, pollution, pesticides, plastics, etc.) in our environment which have built up in such a way to cause unpleasant symptoms. A detox can help your body say “farewell” to some of that so you can recover a bit and feel more like yourself.

3. You turn to food in times of stress or high emotions

Maybe you see food as a way to comfort or provide release and relief. A detox or time dedicated to clean eating is a fantastic way to change the way that you view your relationship with food. When you feed yourself foods that make you feel fabulous, then you begin to see food as a way to nourish and sustain yourself instead of as an avenue towards consolation or punishment. Making and taking the time to enjoy food in a way that is mindful can be truly transformative. Plus, when you experiment with new foods and flavors, you make discoveries that help shift your palate and curb those typical cravings.

If detoxing is something that has intrigued you, be sure you approach it responsibly and intentionally. Working with a health professional can be helpful, but even creating your own simple short term diet of bright colored, fiber-rich, and nutrient dense foods can be the start of moving your health in the right direction.

We have a 10 Day Group Detox coming soon. Stay tuned. Sign up for our mailing list so you stay informed!

MARY PURDY, RD, INTEGRATIVE REGISTERED DIETITIAN

First things first: I love chocolate. I love kale. And I consume them both regularly, but generally not at the same time (although, ask me about my chocolate banana kale smoothie!) I also love helping people find easy ways make their body, mind, and life just a bit better.

MaryPurdy.co is intended for entertainment purposes only. Consult your doctor or Registered Dietitian before acting on anything you find here. The opinions expressed are exclusively those of Mary Purdy, staff, & guests, and may not represent the views of Arivale, Bastyr U., and Dietitians in Integrative & Functional Medicine.